A blog about responding to poverty and injustice, everyday and in all sorts of ways

Archive for the tag “TWD”

It was Human Rights Day, 21 March 2013, when all across Cape Town thousands of people set out to do something different to make a difference as part of the TWD (That Was Different) challenge. It was grand, epic, crazy – and a whole lot of fun! But how has the money raised from TWD helped change lives for the better? Watch this video to find out.

As part of the TWD campaign, Grant Edmond decided to trade places for a day with his gardener, Hamilton, by serving him at his home in Langa. Here, he shares his experience of the day.

Grant and Hamilton

I was planning on doing my TWD challenge on Human Rights Day but had to re-schedule as Hamilton was working on that day. So on Sunday, 7 April 2013, I went to Hamilton’s place in Langa to complete my TWD challenge. It was incredible. I had no idea what to expect. Would his ‘place’ be a shack, a flat, a house? Would there be electricity, running water, or a stove? Would it be safe!? It turns out he lives in the garden of a woman’s sub-divided property, where she allows people to build a place on her land for rent.

Hamilton’s place has wooden flooring and his walls and roof are made from corrugated iron. He was given this place by its previous owner. There is a cable carrying electricity that goes from the property owner’s house to his. He pays R100pm for the electricity (which powers a single light bulb and one plug point) but is not allowed to plug in a two-plate stove or other specified appliances, as they use too much power. He also pays R250pm as rent for the space of land where his home was built. This is quite a hefty fixed expense for a gardener to bear.

Grant at work in Hamilton’s garden

The actual challenge was a mind-blowing experience. I cooked, cleaned and gardened for Hamilton, and he instructed me as to what he wanted done. Unsurprisingly, tasks that would take Hamilton 15 minutes seemed to take me hours – frustrating for me but providing immense entertainment for him! One of the major things that I noticed was the amount of convenience items we have that are actually higher on the list of ‘wealth items’ than one would expect. We may realise that we are blessed because we have electronic goods, such as cell phones and radios, but we forget other basic essential items like storage containers.

Grant at work in Hamilton’s house

Hamilton’s place, consisting in essence of only one room, meant that there was no real space to sit or stand as everything had to be placed on the floor. I bought some containers from the nearby Pick n Pay which allowed him to store his food, clothes, tools and toiletries in a space-effective way. Although Hamilton was grateful for the actual work I was doing, he seemed much more content with the simple fact that I had come to visit him at his home in Langa. He loves speaking English and we chatted for hours while I worked. Hamilton’s favourite topic, which took up most of the conversation, was the different types of economic systems – an interesting choice of conversation that lead me to question which one of us should be at UCT!

This experience was definitely one of the most enriching things I have done. My preconceptions were challenged, my tentativeness was overcome and I was able to bond with a legend. A legend that understands God’s sovereignty and His grace far deeper than I, and who so freely demonstrates Godly wisdom in His speech. I also feel that God has freshly challenged me as to what I really need and as to what is a mere collection of ‘stuff’. If we were to be blessed materially according to our character, I know for certain that Hamilton and my position in life would be completely reversed.

The street view of the community of Langa, where Hamilton lives

“Since I was blessed with this house, it has been a conduit for continued blessing. But that is how life works – we are blessed so that we may go out and bless others and that is what God wants me to do,” Hamilton said at the end of day. I hope that going forward I can cement this experience in my heart and live a life that is truly driven by God’s Word. A life where I not only believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive, but actually practice this truth daily. A life where I am always concerned for those who God is concerned for – the ‘least of us’ who actually in His Kingdom will be put first.

Jesus thank you for this blood-bought opportunity for me to learn more of your amazing Gospel and thank you Hamilton for playing a huge role in teaching me this.

Grant Edmond

– Grant’s challenge is still open for donations! Click here if you’d like to support him with a financial donation. All funds will go towards Common Good’s education and employment initiatives.

Human Rights Day may have come and gone but that doesn’t mean the TWD journey is over.

Having raised over R250 000 for Common Good’s education and employment initiatives, the truly exciting part starts now where we get to bless our city by empowering people with job readiness training, literacy tutoring, small business mentorship, early childhood development, maths coaching and high school tutoring – to name just a few.

The Paradigm Shift graduates strike a pose with their certificates.

Over the next few months, we’re going to be posting stories of how the funds raised from TWD are being used to improve the education and employment situation in Cape Town. To find out more about some of these initiatives now, read and click on the links below:

1. NETwork is a Common Good-birthed initiative that connects the unemployed with employment opportunities and offers job readiness training to prepare people for the working world. NETwork is a hub of opportunity providing people with a resource centre from which they can search for jobs, employment placement services that benefit both employees and employers, as well as offering English courses, computer training, and hospitality/waitering classes. We think it’s a rather special place.

– Click here to read a volunteer’s experience of tutoring at Kewtown Primary

3. Paradigm Shift is a programme where small business owners are given the opportunity to obtain formal business training, mentorship and discipleship. This programme specifically targets individuals who turn to entrepreneurship as a way out of poverty.

Your eyes are not deceiving you! On Human Rights Day, Cape Town was the tourist destination of choice for superheroes. TWD activist (and closet superhero) Stephanie Purser tells us about her TWD Big Day…

Superheroes unite for a good cause!

Thursday the 21st March was no ordinary day for a few ordinary people. On that day, we were superheroes! Dressed in our super-best outfits we took to the streets of Sea Point and began an ordinary round of putt-putt. Fellow players began to ask questions giving us the perfect opportunity to share the idea behind the TWD campaign. The day was a scorcher and the vibe was great! In the end it was Batman who won the challenge.

From putt-putt we took a stroll to the “Hop On Hop Off Buses” pick-up point. And I say ‘stroll’ as the idea of the day was to do something different… and we all know that superheroes don’t usually walk. So we were being very different indeed.

Superheroes take their job of saving the world seriously

We had flyers printed for the day (granted, there was a spelling error and the point of the campaign was to raise funds for education – facepalm), but it was another great way that we could give the campaign some exposure.

We got off at the first stop at the V&A Waterfront for some lunch at Ferryman’s. But first Philip and Rachel decided now was a good time to buy some beloved Nespresso for their morning coffee (even heroes needs a cuppa Joe in the morning). We took advantage of the moment to take some silly photos.

The buses went through town, up to the cable car station then down to Camps Bay (where we stopped for some Sinful ice-cream) and back. It was an awesome way to learn more about our beautiful city while spreading the news of TWD and just hanging as friends.

Overall the day was a success… 2 hours longer than anticipated with funky sunburn lines, but it was definitely a WIN!! Looking forward to more crazy ideas next year!

Thanks to City Sightseeing South Africa for sponsoring bus tickets for these TWD heroes!

Photograph by TWD activist John Sherry, coordinator of “Beach Writing”, which took place on Sunday as an early TWD challenge. Learn more about their day here!

Cape Town doesn’t know what’s going to hit it in less than 48 hours… No, it’s not an asteroid. It’s TWD. The campaign with a heart for making a difference by doing something different. Are you ready?

We’ve put together your TWD survival guide:

1. Doc Martens, a plaid shirt, or some equally 90’s item of clothing to wear to the TWD launch party happening on Wednesday, 20 March at 7pm at the River Club in Observatory. Tickets are R50 and 100% goes to TWD.

2. Your camera or phone to snap photos of any crazy activists you might spot out and about. (Share them with us on our Facebook page!)

3. Running shoes, a paddle, pyjamas, high heels, a helmet, a superhero cape, nail polish, a first aid kit – or anything else you might need to complete a challenge.

4. Sunscreen and water to keep hydrated. It’s gonna be a scorcher.

5. Your thumb pointed upwards. Not to the side as you might get picked up as a hitchhiker then.

Thank you so much to everyone who is taking part on Thursday! We hope this survival guide sees you successfully through to the end of the TWD Big Day.